Clamp raising and lowering means for sewing machines



M. M CANN Feb. 6, 1951 CLAMP RAISING AND LOWERING MEANS FOR SEWINGMACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1948 37m: '6 M'clmel 1c Cannammm M. M CANN 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1951 CLAMP RAISING AND LOWERINGMEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 2, 1948 Feb. 6, 1951 M. MOCANN2,540,987

CLAMP RAISING AND LOWERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 2, 19485 Sheets-Sheet 3 M. M CANN Feb. 6, 1951 CLAMP RAISING AND LOWERING MEANSFOR SEWING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 2, 1948 m PM M M M. MCANN Feb. 6, 1951 CLAMP RAISING AND LOWERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 2, 1948 Patented Feb. 6, 1951 CLAMP RAISINGAND LOWERING MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Michael McCann, Union, N. J.,assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company,

Elizabeth,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 2, 1948, SerialNo.12,*5'04 17 Claims. (01. 112--110) This invention relates tocyclically operated sewing machines such, for example, as button sewingmachines, and more particularly to improvements therein which willfacilitate the operation of the machine by relieving the operator of thenecessity of manually raising and lowering the Work-clamp of the machinefor :each sewing cycle.

A primary objectwof this invention is to provide, in an article attachng machine such as cithatshown-in my United Statespatent applica- ZtionSerial No. 715,685, .filed December 12, 1946, now:Patent'No. 2,495,069.dated January 17, 1950, 2i. le. one .having a reciprocating andlaterally vibrating needle-bar, means for automatically lowering thearticle-holdin work-clamp, and the article carried thereby, upon thework at thebeginning of'the sewing cycle and for'auto- .maticallyraising the clamp, to break the thread and-release the work, at thecompletion of the ;cycle.

.Another object is to provide an improved auto- 'matic clamp actuatingmechanism adapted to .lower the work-clamp by the initial portion of thefirstldownstroke of the needle-bar in a sewi-ing cycle and to raisethe-work-clamp by the final portion of the last upstrokethereof,regardlessof the fact that those two strokes of the needle-bar areeffected in laterally spaced ver- -.tical planes.

In my prior United StatesPatent No. 2,300,585, "November 3, 1942 thereis shown, described and claimed an automatic clamp lowering'and raisingmechanism actuated by the reciprocatory ..movements of a non-vibratoryneedle-bar. One of the objects of this inventionis to improve thatmechanism so as-to adapt it to a sewing machine provided with aneedle-bar which has .both reciprocatorv and vibratory motions.

1 An automatic clamp actuating mechanism of this natureis ideal when-themachine is fitted ;.with-a-clamp adapted to hold fiat buttons, as theflat button may be properly inserted into the clamp while the clamp ,islifted. When the .clam-piis lowered-upon the work, the button will -..beheld in :the properposition for the needle lto enter the holesinthebutton. However, under -.certain-conrlitions automaticraising andlower- -;ing of the clamp is not desirable. For example, whemthemachinetis fitted with a shank-button clampsuch as shown in the McCannUnited istatescPatent No. 2,131,012, September 20, 1938, the; button:cannct be properly inserted in the -.button-.clamp while the clamp is:in the raised .--.position because, in that 13051171011, the button- 5holding arm of the .clampiis retracted anddoes not engage the back 'ofthe button to hold the shank thereof "in the button-supportin foot"fiorming a part :of the button-clamp.

ipresent Einvlention, therefore, has as an- 2 other object to :provideconveniently actuated means for rendering-theautomati'c clamp loweringand raising mechanism ineffective, or :inoperative, and forsmaintainingit-in an inoperative condition untilautomatic actuation. of the clampisagain desired.

With the abovetand other objects in-view, as will hereinafter appear,the inventioncomprises the devices, combinations and arrangements ofparts hereinafter :set forth and illustrated in theaccompanying-drawings of a preferred embodiment of theiinventiom fromwhich the several features of the invention and the advantages attainedthereby will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art.

.In-the drawings, Fig. .lis a rear side elevation of a buttonsewingmachine embodying the present invention, with a side cover plate thereofremoved and with the bracket-arm head in sec- "tion.

Fig.2 is anenlarged'front end view of themachine shown in Fig. '1 withthe major portion of the faceplate of-the bracket-arm head broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear view, partly in section, of the bracket-armhead and a portion. of the bracket-arm, the automatic clamp liftingmechanisml-being shown in full lines as shifted to an inoperativeposition.

Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line l-1 of Fig. 3 with the bracket-arm shown :in elevation.

Fig. '5 is an enlarged end view of=the bracketarm head with thefaceplateremoved.

Fig. 6-is'afragmentaryvertical sectional view of the bracket-arm headand parts associated therewith, the parts being in positions difierentfrom those shown in-Figs3.

Fig. 7 is a detailhorizontal sectional view taken substantially on theline .11 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a'detail' horizontal sectional view taken substantially on theline 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig.9.is a detail perspective view of the means for maintaining .theautomatic clamp-lifting means in an inoperative condition when automatic1 liftin v ofthe work-clamp is not desired.

Referring .more specifically to the drawings, the invention isdisclosedsas .embodiedin an ar- .ticle attaching :machine, :having "aframe comprising a bed I, having a laterally extending work-supporting.arm .1 :a bracket-arm 2, consisting of a standardfl secured to the bedII, and

an overhanging arm 4 .;terminating in open-face bracket-arm head5normally closed by aremovable faceplate-15a. The arm l is ofsubstantially inverted :.U--1shape in cross section and is normallyclosed :by a removable sheet metal cover l having,,tat its :outer end..a spring-- pressed hinged :cover 1. .Journa1edllengthwise of the arm 4is a main or drive shaft 5 carrying 'needle-bar-driving shaft.

3 at its rear end, a pinion I driven from a gear 8 journaled on a stubshaft 9 secured in astopmotion bracket Ill fixed to the standard 3.Fixed to the gear 8 is a driving pulley I I, adapted to be driven fromany suitable source, by a belt not shown. Also secured to the'gear 8 isa'notched stop-motion cam I2 which cooperates with aspring-pressedplunger I3 to bring the machine to rest after a predetermined number ofstitches have been made. A loose pulley I4 also is journaled on theshaft 9 beside the drive pulley II and has the driving belt shiftedthereto when the machine is brought to rest by the stop-,mov tionmechanism. The pitch diameter of the gear 8 is twice that of the pinionI and therefore that gear rotates'at only one-half the speed of rotationof the pinion I and shaft 6 which latter have one rotation for eachstitch forming cycle. Thus it will be apparent that due to the slowerspeed of rotation of the gear 8 and stop motion cam the machine may bebrought to rest with materially less strain and shock than can machinesin which the driving pulley and the stopmotion cam are carried directlyby the main or The stop-motion is provided with a treadle-actuatedstarting lever I (Fig. 2) and is held in running position by aspring-pressed latch I6 until the latch is autoet-arm head and hasformed integrally therewith a vertically disposed sleeve 23 in which isreciprocably mounted a need e-bar 24 carrying,

at its lower end, an eye-pointed thread-carrying needle 25. Slidinglymounted in the head 5, parallelto but at one side and slightly rearwardof the needle-bar, is a guide-bar 26 on which is slidingly mounted atubular-portion 21 of a member'2I. This member'has a forked portion 2?adapted toreceivea slide-block 28 forming a part of a collar 29 clampedupon the upper portion of the needle-bar by a clamp screw 35. The collar29 also carries an arm 3I which projects throughaslot 5 in the faceplate 5 and has therein a'thread-eye 32. This arm 3| and eye 32 form apart of a thread take-up mechanism I which is shown and. described morefully in'my above mentioned application.

Vertical reciprocations are given to the member" 21, on the bar 25, byendwise movements of a link 33 journaled'at its upper end. upon'a pin34' carried by the member 21 and embracing, at its other end, acrank-pin 35 carried by a crankdisk 36'secured upon the forward end ofthe rotary main shaft '6. The reciprocations of the member 21 aretransmitted to the needle-bar and the needle carried thereby by theforked portion 21 slide block 28 and collar 29.

Cooperating with the needle, in the formation of stitches is aloop-taker 31, preferably in the .form of a wing-type rotary chainstitch loo-per Secured to and rotated by a loop-taker shaft 38.

that disclosed in my above mentioned application. L

Oscillation of the frame 2I for laterally shifting or vibrating theneedle-bar transversely of the work-supporting arm I to cause the needlesuccessively to enter spaced holes in a button is eifected from a camgroove 39 formed in one face of the cam wheel I8 hereinbefore mentioned.The specific means for transmitting motion from the camgroove 39; to theframe 2I forms no part of this invention and is designated generally asReference may be had to my above mentioned application for a morecomplete description thereof.

Mounted upon the upper surface of the worksupporting arm I is awork-holder comprising a work-plate 40 and an overlying button-clamp 4!.The button clamp illustrated is adapted to hold flat buttons but it isto be understood that other forms of clamps may be substituted therefor,such for example as the shank-button clamp disclosed in my abovementioned Patent No. 2,131,012, September 20, 1938. The button clamp maybe shifted lengthwiseof the worksupporting arm by the mechanismdisclosed in my above mentioned application or by any'other suitablemeans.

Secured to the upper side of the button-clamp is a fork 42 whichembraces a stud 43 carried by an arm 44 projecting laterally from acollar 65. This collar is secured upon the lower end of aspring-depressed clamp-lifting and clamp-depressing bar 35 mounted forvertical movement in the bracket-arm head 5. A coil spring 41 interposedbetween a Wall of the bracket-arm head and a collar 48, secured upon thebar 45, normally maintainsthe bar and the button-clamp depressed. Thecollar 48 carries a depending arm CFI ing the button-clamp during thefinal upstroke of the needle-bar in each article attaching cycle.

ts having an off-set stud-like portion 50. The bar 45 and thebutton-clamp connected therewith may be lifted, in opposition to thespring 41, by a treadle-actuated lever 5I, fulcrumed on a shoulder screw52 threaded into a bracket 53 secured to the under side of theoverhanging bracket-arm. The lever 5I has a forked end 5I which engagesthe stud 55. V

The collar 45 carries a forwardly projecting arm 54 formed integrallywith a split collar 55, clamped upon the lower end of the guide-bar 26hereinbefore mentioned. Thus the downward pressure exerted by the spring41 is transmitted to the guide-bar 26 to urge it downwardly. Inasmuch asthe guide-bar is rigidly connected with .the button-clamp the two movein synchronis'm.

Therefore when the button clamp is lowered by the spring 4'!theslide-bar 26 is similarly moved downwardly. Likewise 'when theslide-bar is moved upwardly, by means hereinafter to be described, thebutton clamp is raised in opposition to the spring 47.

Means, now to be described, is provided for shifting the slide-bar 26upwardly, thereby rais- Clamped upon the slide-bar 25, within thebracket-arm head 5, is a collar 56 carrying a shoulder screw 51, uponwhich'is journaled the 5. latch member 58 is formed with a verticallydisposedslot 58 through which passes the reduced forward end portion 59of a lengthwise movable push-pull rod 59 which extends lengthwise of thearm 4, passing through an apertureefi in the rear wall: 5 .of thebracket-arm head. Nuts 60', 6| threaded on. the reduced portion 59engage oppositefaces of the latch member 58 and cause thatrmemberto beswung about its pivot 51 by the end-wise movements of the rod 59; Acoilspring 82 surrounding the rod 59 and interposed between the' wall 55 ofthe bracket-arm head and the nut 60, normally tends to shift the rod andth'e latch lever toward the right as seen in Figs. 1 and- 4', totheposition illustrated in those figures.

.At its rear end the rod 59 is pivotally connect- .ed, by a coupling 63,to the upper :arm 64 of a two-armed lever 64- fulcrumed on a stud 84threaded into the bracket-arm. The action of the coil spring 62 normallyurges lever 64 to turn. in.:a clockwise direction, Figs. 1 and 3,thereby causing the free end of the lower arm 84 of the lever 54 to bearagainst the periphery of the rotating cam wheel l8, hereinbeforementioned. Secured to the periphery of the cam wheel I8, 180 degreesapart, are cam blocks 65 adapted to ride under the free end of the lowerarm 64* of the. lever 64 after t e stop-motion has been tripped toinitiate the stopping of the mac ine near t e completion of a sewingcycle. The-cam block 65 turns the lever 64, counterclockwise. therebyshifting the rod 59 and latch member 58 from the position shown in Fig.1 to the position shown in Fig. 6. thereby swinging the offset portion58 of the latch member 58 into t e path of reciprocation of the shoulder21 of the member 21 as that member andthe needlebar start their finalupward movements, at the end of a sewing cycle. Thereafter the finalupward movement of the member 21 lifts the latch member 58 and therebythe button-clamp as hcreinbefore described.

At the beginning of the next sewing cycle, the firstdownward movement ofthe member 21 and needle-bar 24 permits the latch member 58, uidebar 26,arm 54, and the bar 46 to descend under the influence-of the spring 41thereby lowering the button-clamp upon a work-piece on the workplate45!, as the cam block 65 moves beyond the lever arm .64.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the mechanism hereinbeforedescribed will cause the work-clamp automatically to be lowered upon thework during the first downstrokeof the needle-bar at the beginning ofeach sewing. cycle and to be automatically lifted during the lastupstroke of the needle-bar at the completion of each cycle. Due tothefact that .the. raising and lowering of the work-clamp is effected.by the member 2'! and not directly by the. needle-barthe lateralvibratory movements of the needle-bardo not in any way interfere withthe proper "functioningof the automatic clamp lifting and loweringmechanism.

"Under certain conditions, such, {for example, as when using themachineto sew shank but- .tonsit may bedesirable to render the automaticclamp lifting and Ioweringmechanism ineffective.

This may be readily accomplished as now will "ton projects through anaperture 61 in the face plate .5. This. aperture isugenerally circularbut has an ofiset. square portion 6.8; .(Tliig. 9 through which. isadapted to slide a ston-blockyia secured to the side of thepush-button.An; annular: flange ll formed on the push-button is, adapted. to em gagethe. inner surface of. the. face.-p1at e to prevent withdrawal of: thepush-button through-the aperture 61.

During the operation. .of the machine, when using; the. automatic clampliiting-mechanismpthe push-button 5:6 is in its outermost position i;.e. with its flange 10: in contact: with the innerasurface of the;faceplate and. with the StOIDrblOQk 6'9 projecting through the squareportion 68" of the aperture 5?, all as illustrated in: Figs. '1; i andBand in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Inposition the push-button has noeffecton the automatic clamp lifting mechanism and that mechanism operates ashereinbefore described.

When it is desired to render the automatic clamp lifting mechanisminoperative, the push-- button ii-E is pushed inwardly, inopposition'to: the spring. 62, from the position shown in Figs, 1, 4 and8, and given a partial rotation to place:

' the outer end of the block 69 behind the inner surface of the faceplate 5*, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. This inward movement of the.push-b.ut--

ton shifts the rod 59, latch member 58. and lever 6 i to the positionsshown in. full lines in Fig. 3

i. c. with offset portion 58 of the latch member 58. out of the path ofmovement of the shoulder portion 27 01 the member 21 and the free end.of the armfi l of the lever 54 out. of the. path .of' rotation of thecam blocks 65 on the cam wheel 158. With the parts in the positionsshown in Fig. 8 the machine may complete its sewing cycle and be broughtto rest by the stop motion mechanism without effecting liftingor'lowering' of the button clamp.

To again render the automatic clamp "lifting means effectiveit is merelynecessary to rotate the push-button suiiiciently to align the blocktfi', carried thereby, with the offset square portion 68 of the aperture6! whereupon the expansion of the spring 62 will move the rod 59 endwiseand shift the parts into their operative positions.

Having thus setforth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis:

I. A sewing machine having, in combination, a re'ciprocatory andlaterally vibratory needlebar adapted to have reciprocations inlaterally spaced paths; a work-clamp; a member having a'horizontalsliding connection with the needlebar and mounted for verticalreciprocation in a fixed path at each reciprocation of said needlebar; astop-motion device constructed and arranged to bring the machine to restat completion of a predetermined sewing cycle; and a normallyineffective coupling element and means for actuating said element intimed relation with said stop-motion device to cause it to couple saidmember to said work-clamp for autoinatic lifting of the latter asthemachine comes to rest.

g 2. A sewing machine having, in combinatioma reciprocatory andlaterally vibratory needle-gbar adapted to have reciprocations'inlaterally spaced paths a spring-depressed Work-clamp; a'memher havingahorizontal sliding connection with the needle-bar and mounted forvertical reciprocation in a fixed path at each reciprocation of saidneedle-bar; a stop-motion deviceconstructed and arranged to bring themachine 'to rest at the completion-of a predetermined sewin cycle; meansincluding a rotary element for controlling the action of saidstop-motion device; and coupling means actuated by said rotary elementand operating in timed relation with said stop-motion device to couplesaid member to said work-clamp for automatic lifting of the latterduring the final upward movement of the needlebar.

3. In a sewing machine having a head, a vertically reciprocatory andlaterally vibratory needlebar mounted in said head, means forreciprocating and vibrating said needle-bar, a workclamp, andastop-motion device constructed and arranged to bring the machineto-rest at the completion of a predetermined sewing cycle; theimprovement which consists in the provision of a slide-bar mounted insaid head and connected with said work-clamp; a member slidingly mountedon said slide-bar and reciprocating with said needle-bar; and meansoperated in timed relation with said stop-motion device to connect saidmember to said slide-bar for automatically lifting said slide-bar andwork-clamp at the completion of the sewing cycle.

4. In a sewing machine having a head, a vertically reciprocatory andlaterally vibratory needlebar mounted in said head, means forreciprocating and vibrating said needle-bar, a work-clamp, and astop-motion device constructed and arranged to bring the machine to restat the completion of a predetermined sewing cycle; the improvement whichconsists in the provision of a slide-bar mounted in said head andconnected with said work-clamp; a member slidingly mounted on saidslide-bar and reciprocating with said needle-bar; a, latch memberpivotally secured to said slide-bar and normally maintained out of thepath of reciprocation of said memher; and means operated in timedrelation with said stop-motion device to shift said latch-memher intothe path of reciprocation of said member to cause said member to liftsaid slide-bar and work-clamp at the completion of the sewing cycle.

5. In a sewing machine having a head, a vertically reciprocatory andlaterally vibratory needl -bar mounted in said head, means forreciprocat ng and vibrating said needle-bar, a work-clamp, and astop-motion device constructed and arranged to bring the machine to restat the completion of a predetermined sewing cycle; the imn-rovementwhich consists in the provi ion of a slide-bar mounted in said head andconnected with said work-clamp; a member slid ngly mounted on saidslide-bar and reciproeating with said needle-bar: a shoulder provided bysaid member: a latch member pivotally secured to said slide-bar andhaving an ofiset portion; and means operated in timed relation with saidstop-motion device to swing said latch member into a position in whichsaid oifset portion overlies said shoulder to cause said member to liftsaid slide-bar and work-clamp at the completion of the sewing cycle.

6. A cyclically operated article-attaching machine combining a head; apivotally mounted article-holding clamp; stitch-forming mechanismincluding a reciprocating needle-bar mounted in said head; aclamp-lifting bar-slidingly mounted in said head and connected with saidclamp; a clamp-lifting member slidingly mounted on said bar; meansconnecting said member with said needle-bar for reciprocation therewith;a latch memberpivotal-11y secured said bar; spring means acting on saidlatch member for holding it out of the path of reciprocation of saidclamplifting member; and means acting in opposition to said spring meansfor shifting said latch memher into the path of movement of theclamplifting member during the final upward movement of the needle-barin each sewing cycle.

'7. In a sewing machine having a head, a vertically reciprocable andlaterally shiftable needlebar mounted in said head, means forreciprocating said needle-bar, means for shifting said needle-barlaterally between successive reciprocations thereof, a work-clamp, and astop-motion device constructed and arranged to bring the machine to restat the completion of a predetermined sewing cycle; the improvement whichconsists in the provision of a clamp lifter located in said head andconnected with said workclamp; a member slidingly mounted on said clamplifter and having a sliding driving connection with said needle-bar inall lateral positions of the needle-bar; and means operated in timedrelation with said stop-motion device to connect said member to saidclamp lifter for actuating said clamp lifter to cause it to lift saidworkclamp by the final upward movement of the needle-bar at thecompletion of a sewing cycle.

8. A sewing machine combining a reciprocatory needle-bar; a work-clamp;a stop-motion device constructed and arranged to bring the machine torest at the completion of a predetermined sewing cycle; automatic meansincluding a shiftable member operated in timed relation with thestop-motion device to couple said needle-bar to said work-clamp forautomatically lifting the latteras the machine comes to rest; and amanually operated element for holding said shiftable member out ofoperative position to render said automatic means ineffective.

9. A sewing machine combining a reciprocatory needle-bar; a work-clamp;a stop-motion device constructed and arranged to bring the machine torest at the completion of a predetermined sewing cycle; automatic meansincluding a spring-biased latch member operated in timed relation withthe stop-motion device normally to couple said needle-bar to saidwork-clamp'for automatic lifting of the "latter by the last upstroke ofthe needle-bar in a sewing cycle; and a manually operated element forshifting said latch member to an inoperative position to render thelatch member ineffective to couple said. needlebar to said work-clamp.

10. A sewing machine combining a reciprocatory and laterally Vibratoryneedle-bar adapted to have reciprocations in laterally spaced paths; 2.work-clamp; a member mounted for'vertical reciprocation in apredetermined'path at each reciprocation of said needle-bar; astop-motion device constructed and arranged to bring the machine to restat the completion of a predetermined sewing cycle; counling meansoperated automatically in timed relation with said stepmotion device tocouple said member to said work-clamp for eiiecting automatic lifting ofthe latter as the machine comes to rest; and manually, actuated meansfor shifting said coupling means out of the path of movement of saidmember Jrendering said automatic clamp-lifting means ineffective. v

11. A cyclically operated sewing machine cornbing a head; apivotallyfmounted article-holding clamp; stitch-forming mechanismincluding a reciprocating needle bar mounted said headi a clamp-liftingbar slidingly mounted in said head and connected with said clamp; aclamp-lifting member slidingly mounted on said bar; means connectingsaid member with said needle-bar for reciprocation therewith; a latchmember secured to said clamp-lifting bar and having a portion movableinto the path of movement of said clamp-lifting member; spring meansnormally maintaining said latch member out of the path of movement ofsaid clamp-lifting member; automatic means operating in opposition tosaid spring means for shifting said latch member into the path ofmovement of the clamp-lifting member during the final upward movement ofthe needle-bar in a sewing cycle; and manually actuated means forrendering said automatic means ineffective to lift the clamp.

12. A cyclically operated article-attaching machine combining a frameincludin a bracketarm and a bracket-arm head; a pivotally mountedarticle-holding clamp; stitch-forming mechanism. including areciprocating needle-bar mounted in said head; a clamp-lifting barslidingly mounted in said head and connected with said clamp; aclamp-lifting member slidingly mounted on said bar; means connectingsaid member with said needle-bar for reciprocation therewith; a latchmember secured to said clamp-lifting bar; a rotary cycle-control memberjournaled on said frame; means actuated by said cycle control member andextending lengthwise of said bracket-arm for shifting said latch memberinto the path of movement of the clamp-lifting member during the finalupward movement of the needle-bar in a predetermined sewing cycle, toeffect automatic lifting of the buttonclamp; and manually operable meansfor shifting said latch member out of the path of movement of saidclamp-lifting member thereby to render said automatic clamp-liftingmeans ineffective.

13. A cyclically operated article-attaching machine, combining a frameincluding a bracketarm and a hollow bracket-arm head; a face-platesecured to said head; a pivotally mounted articleholding clamp;stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle-bar mounted insaid head; a clamp-lifting bar slidingly mounted in said headand'connected with said clamp; a clamp-lifting member slidingly mountedon said bar; means connecting said member with said needle-bar forreciprocation therewith; a latch member secured to said clamp-liftingbar; a cam-actuated rod extending lengthwise of said bracket-arm forshifting said latch member into the path of movement of theclamp-lifting member during the final upward movement of the needle-barin a predetermined sewing cycle to effect automatic lifting of thework-clamp; and a manually operable member carried by said face-platefor shifting said latch member out of the path of movement of saidclamp-lifting member to render the automatic clamp-lifting meansineifective.

14. A cyclically operated sewing machine combining a head; a face-platesecured to said head; a pivotally mounted work-clamp; stitch-formingmechanism. including a reciprocating needle-bar mounted in said head; aclamp-lifting bar slidingly mounted in said head and connected with saidclamp; a latch member secured to said clamp-lifting bar and normallydisconnected from said needle-bar; automatically actuated means forshifting said latch member to cause it to connect said needle-bar withsaid clamplifting bar during the final upward movement of the needle-barin a sewing cycle; and manually operable means carried by saidface-plate to shift said latch member to an ineffective position therebyto render said automatically actuated means inoperative.

15. In a sewing machine having a head, a vertically reciprocatoryneedle-bar mounted in said head, means for reciprocating saidneedle-bar, a work-clamp, and a stop-motion device constructed andarranged to bring the machine to rest at the completion of apredetermined sewing cycle; the improvement which consists in theprovision of a slide-bar mounted in said head and connected with saidwork-clamp; a member slidingly mounted on said slide-bar andreciprocating with said needle-bar; a latch lever pivotally mounted onsaid slide-bar and normally biased to one of two extreme positions inwhich it is out of the path of reciprocation of said member; meansoperated in timed relation with said stopmotion device to shift saidlatch lever into an intermediate position and in the path ofreciprocation of said member to connect said member to said slide-barfor automatically lifting said slide-bar and work-clamp by the lastupstroke of the needle-bar at the completion of the sewing cycle; andmanually actuated means for shifting said latch lever to its otherextreme position and for locking it in the last named position to renderthe automatic clamp-lifting means ineffective.

16. In an article-attaching machine having stitch-forming mechanismincluding a reciprocating needle-bar, an article-holding clamp, andmeans including a latch member actuated by the needle-bar during oneonly of a predetermined plurality of upward movements thereof forautomatically lifting the article-holding clamp; the improvement whichcomprises the provision of a manually operated element engaging saidlatch member for shifting it to an inoperative position to render saidclamp-lifting means ineffective.

1'7. In a cyclically operated article-attaching machine, in combination,a head; stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle-barmounted in said head; a member reciprocated with said needle-bar; anarticle-holding clamp; automatic clamp-lifting means including a latchelement connected with said clamp and adapted to be swung into the pathof movement of said member during the final upstroke of the needlebarfor normally causing the needle-bar to lift the clamp; and a push buttonmounted in said head and constructed and arranged to act on said latchelement to hold it out of the path of movement of said member to renderthe automatic clamp-lifting means ineffective.

MICHAEL MCCANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,158,199 Reece May 16, 19392,300,585 McCann Nov. 3, 1942

